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Sep. 1st, 2012

Saturday musings

mood: nostalgic

First things first - it's Bring Back the Porn day at InsaneJournal, and you can find it all at bbtp_challenge (master list). I even got my act together this year and wrote Our Scandalous Days Behind Us about the secret sex lives of the inhabitants of Downton Abbey. I've never written these characters before, so I'd love to hear what you think.

Second, Doctor Who's back! And I thought it was both frustrating and fabulous.

Third, I'm excited that I just this minute ordered Space Fluxx after playing a similar game (Martian Fluxx) at a friend's birthday last weekend. Anybody ever played it? I'm crap at card games that require you to remember numbers and stuff, but this is fun and silly and the rules change often enough to suit my limited attention span.

I thought I deserved a little gifty for myself because fourthly, I dyed my hair a colour that can only be described as "shit brown." It was supposed to be a lot lighter - I didn't want to go darker because I had such trouble getting it out the last time I dyed my hair black - but this is almost as dark as the black and not nearly as pretty. Am now contemplating pink or purple to fix this. But at least the profusion of white hairs I'd gotten in the past two weeks are gone, as is the source of the white hairs, so that counts as a win.

Fifth, there's really no fifth, other than that I'm relaxing tonight with some Upper Canada Dark Ale, cuddling a kitten on the couch beside me, and exploring Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on Youtube. I don't know much about hip-hop so I can't say how unique Macklemore is, but I find his music so moving in how he's using it to say something important, whether it's speaking out for music or for hope in his community or against consumerism and disconnectivity, or here, with SAME LOVE, for gay rights and marriage equality.

And if you want one more, this vid left me in sappy tears, partly because I got the worst homesickness for Seattle but also just because of the joy and the potential he sees in the kids, and in what they can become, and his acknowledgement that it won't ever be the same and the RKcndy's not coming back, but they need to have something like that too, they need that chance.

Jul. 11th, 2012

mood: busy

My brother's visiting for a week so my online time is severely limited, and I'm missing it like whoa! On the other hand, it's so nice to have him here. We've walked about 20 zillion miles in the past 24 hours and eaten I don't know how many tons of Indian food. My family can do some serious damage to a buffet.

AND he brought me three bags of bite-size Heath bars. Best. Brother. Ever.

I sent him out wandering while I chatted on the phone with a potential client (cross your fingers for me, people, I need him to buy!) and when he gets back tonight we're cooking at home, because he wants to learn to make my bread, and watching Jekyll. I'm kind of boggling that we went from trying to kill each other as kids to this kind of domestic relationship now. It's nice, but a bit unnerving.

We're off to Montréal tomorrow, via Mont-Tremblant - I'm quite looking forward to that - and then spending the weekend at the farm my Summer Palace, where I was last week (and where my kittens still are, because the Ex is evil and refuses to give them back I didn't want to leave them alone during our trip. They like the farm. A lot. Too much, in fact. Behold, the evolution of Timid Cat into Intrepid Wilderness Explorer:

Apr. 24th, 2011

Greetings from Middle Earth

mood: groggy

Two days of left-hand side driving with no crashes, roadkill, or panic attacks. (Okay, I confess, one panic attack at Porter's pass with a SHEER DROPOFF just a few centimeters the road. Had to talk myself through that one.) But it's some of the most gorgeous countryside I've ever seen. Also met a "wild" parrot at a car park who, once he discovered I had almonds, practically attacked me for the bag. Pictures coming soon.

I spent last night on the shores of Lake Palmer, listening to the rain fall. Typical camping, right? But woke up to a stunningly gorgeous day, had a couple of very strong flat whites loaded with zucker, and met the van to take me to Edoras. (Well, Mount Sunday to the locals, but Meduseld to us, right?) Wow! I can't describe how amazing it was to be standing there on this craggy outcrop surrounded by the scenery that I recognised so well. The tour guide was quite a character himself - an ex-pastor who sure liked to talk (glad he enjoyed LOTR talk more than god talk) and seemed to be having as much fun as we did. Our group was interesting - an Indian family from Tasmania with a little baby, two Norwegian guys, a Chinese guy from Melbourne, and a girl from the Hague who's working in Auckland now. The family kept to themselves so the rest of us just tramped all over the place, and had some interesting discussions with the Dutch girl and Australian guy who bemoaned how people didn't work hard enough in NZ and Australia and had good lives without working hard and never had to want for anything; the Norwegians and I were going, "Yeah, sure do hate that!"

And then we slaughtered them with our genuine Middle Earth swords! MWUAHAHAHAHA. No, but we did have swords (Narsil and whatever Eowyn's was called) as well as Gimli's axe, so we could have. Instead we just exchanged email addresses for photograph swaps and were terribly civil about everything.

But no, we really did all get along pretty well. Guess that's the thing when you're submerged in geek culture. It really was a lovely day. And it was clear and unseasonably warm and the winds were whipping past me and it was just unbelievable. I can't even imagine how much more thrilling it's going to be when I get to Gondor. (Er, um, Queenstown.)

That's a few days off still. Tomorrow I'm heading to Oamaru via a very winding route that our tour guide recommended, past Fairlie and Lake Tekapo and Pelennor Fields (er, Twizel), where I am sure to shed a tear. Then if I hit Oamaru at the right time, I should be able to see the Little Blue Penguins AND the yellow-eyed penguins. alsha you should be getting a call!

But tonight I broke down and got a real hotel room in Methven, which was probably a good idea because being chauffeured around all day is exhausting. *g* I'll take a much-needed shower and then read a bit. I just started a great new book last night, but after the disappointment of the last one I just finished, I'm cautious of tremendous beginnings because they seem to always fall flat. (Please Emily Carr and Katherine Dunn, I know you are top-selling authors, but please let me rewrite your endings, okay?)

Apr. 20th, 2011

Quite likely the longest post I've ever written

mood: sleepy

music: it's 3:30am, there is no music, why am I still awake?

There is way too much to update, and I don’t know where to start – and as it turns out, I know some of my friends don’t even know what is happening or where I am, since I’ve been so sporadic about updating stuff. So maybe I will do this with numbers. Yes, that’s a good idea.

Mar. 13th, 2011

Trees, jetlag, thingy & the other thingy

mood: content

I’ve been in New Zealand for a little over two weeks now. Sometimes it feels like I’ve only just arrived; other times like I’ve been living here forever. I thought I should try to record some of my impressions and thoughts for later; they might not be interesting to anybody but me, but I suspect that looking back on them a year from now will make me smile.

Aug. 1st, 2010

Weekend update

music: Grand Hallway - Sirens

I hope you're all having a lovely weekend. Mine's been pretty fab. I had a great dinner and lots of good conversation last night with deakat and paraka. I really love being around people who live fandom, who are always thinking about how it works and how to make it grow -- not just the followers of a particular show or a genre, but the fandom world as a whole. I'd been debating writing something about what fandom means to me -- it's truly changed my life to find a community with so much talent given freely, motivated not by profit but (in the case of writers) by a real passion for storytelling, who create stuff at a level that often exceeds published writers, but who do it out of pure enjoyment and love. The whole topic has seemed such a daunting task, but after talking to paraka last night those ideas are percolating. Even if I never write anything of it, helping make sense of it in my mind is a good thing, I think.

All that's been in light of EKP reaching SEVEN THOUSAND SUBSCRIBERS. This is just an inconceivable number -- we're getting ever closer to filling the Ottawa Civic Centre! *cackles* Oh, how I would like to try that!

Now I'm getting ready to send off my latest writing and then do something fun like, oh, clip my cat's claws. I got my new futon cover (YAY!) and it looks AWESOME and I don't want it shredded like the last one was.

Jul. 24th, 2010

This icon's for the week that was

mood: relaxed

music: Clueso - Komm herein

And now, it's the weekend!! You've been a long time coming, my friend, but you're so very welcome!

So today I am:

* Cleaning house in preparation for amilee123's visit tomorrow.* Writing the last part of my chapter that WILL be finished today.* Picking up the laminated card thing I had Staples make up (since it's going to live in the damp part of my kitchen) from redcouchaddict's brilliant banner.* Catch up on fic reading -- graspthethorn has two that I want to sink into. (And wow, not diving into those immediately is really the best indication of how busy my week's been.)

Jul. 14th, 2010

Surprisingly sparkly?

mood: chipper

I've apparently forgotten how to post in IJ without resorting to rants about stupid people (why do people keep emailing us asking if DeRo have really broken up?) or breaking down into torrents of tears (yes, yes, I am wearing extra mascara for the occasion). So I thought I would try to write something that doesn't have anything to do with obsession or heartache, soapy or RL.

Welcome to PROJECT AWESOMESAUCE in which I will reach for my pink fluffy sky (and then force it on you as you look askance and ask "omg what's happened to Lil?")

Today's happy things are:

The utterly delightful little film that I've been cheerleading for, and which we've just submitted to the Reeling Lesbian & Gay Film Festival in Chicago.

Look at all the utterly sparkly people! *loves beyond belief*

"Eve" apples, direct from Aldi's backyard (except not literally because I think all that's in her backyard these days are frost-covered sheep wandering among the rambles of frozen weeds). They're my newest find at Sloblaws, crisp and tart and absolutely perfect.

Molly, who's bounced back from her surgery with flying colours and is at this very moment stretching herself over my arm which I obviously don't need to type nearly so much as she needs to use it as a brace to clean her paws.

My shiny new purchases of Momo and Neverending Story that just arrived yesterday and are sitting there whispering to me with their tempting voices. Forget your clients, come reeeeeaad ussssss... (Why do my books speak to me in the voice of the One Ring?)

May. 18th, 2010

My icon says it all

mood: relaxed

Today I...

* got a new client *ka-ching!** finished a bit of writing and sent it off to Aldi* got thinky thoughts over the next chapter, which is really exciting because I want to dive into this new character* heard from a dear and sorely missed friend *squishes Rosebach unbelievably tight** got squeeful over paraka podficcing one of my stories *bouncebouncebounce*

And now I've got a spread of Lebanese olives, a Spanish wine, and three different kinds of cheeses, which I'm savouring while watching Alice In Wonderland. This movie has the best look ever! And it's like Lord of the Rings on acid. Also, may just I say that Crispin Glover is like walking sex. Walking sex with an eyepatch. He can take me right now yes.

Tonight I refuse to think about the Gulf Coast as a dead sea, Alabama geometry teachers, or my incredibly frustrating father. Nope, right now, life is pretty close to perfect.

May. 6th, 2010

It's here!

mood: stressed

The new Shiny is here! And has been dubbed Clive because, well, all black and chrome and sleek, who else could he be?

It's a hell of a learning curve, what with Windows 7 (I was on Windows XP) and Office 2007 (I had 2003). It feels really cluttered and things move around too much, or they go faint or opaque, or kind of... I don't know, quiver. I like my programs to sit quietly and behave themselves. Instead, it's like my OS is a class of toddlers hopped up on pixie stix. But I'll get the hang of it, I'm sure. And people say they love it, after a while. We'll see.

I'm trying to keep the old girl chugging away through this weekend, when I'm going to wipe her completely and try to install everything we need for EKP. Please, keep your fingers crossed for me that I don't completely futz everything up.

I am not supposed to be dealing with technology! I am a word person! When did we have to learn to hack into television networks and workaround compatibility issues and finding patches for uncommunicative routers? I would be quite happy with cave drawings, thank you very much.

May. 2nd, 2010

An update, of sorts

mood: frustrated

music: Parka - Angekommen

In response to a couple of posts about IJ being quieter than usual... I honestly can't say I've noticed, because of the surge of activity in the shiny new AWZ asylums, no7_awz and eskimo_kiss. That being said, I have been quiet here. So while yet another computer scan runs, I think I'll do an update.

Mar. 19th, 2010

zonked

mood: lethargic

music: BB Brunes - Britty Boy

Finished washing all my winter clothes and put them into those cool spacebags that scrunch them tiny, moved the very heavy bedframe and got the summer clothes out from under there, vaccuumed up six months of accumulated cat and sheltie hair in the bedroom, and now it's time to put the whole room back together.

And I have completely run out of steam. Seriously, I'm not sure I can move. Abandoning the bedroom as a lost cause and camping out on the couch sounds like a perfectly reasonable alternative.

Feb. 2nd, 2010

Update of randomy stuff

mood: mellow

It's been ages since I had a proper update, so here's an attempt to catch up:

bridgetmkennitt is pimping chromaticvision, a multifandom character of colour challenge. I won't be able to participate -- the story I'm focused on is all about immigrants from western Europe, so no colour there -- but I hope many of you lot will sign up. I'm looking forward to reading these and seeing how characters of colour can be written well.

Speaking of reading, I have actually been picking up actual books lately. *gasp* I reread The English Patient, which always feels like a long luxurious soak in a milkbath of imagery, and I just started Middlesex last night. And okay, this is strange, but I love smelling the pages. The bookstore where I bought Middlesex has cedar shelves and the paper still retains it, while The English Patient smells like our house in Seattle. I think this is why I could never get one of those readers; I doubt that huffing on a Kindle could have the same sensory effect.

I'm learning German! I've had four classes so far, and the first three were horribly frustrating. The teacher wouldn't call on me -- she'd skip right over to the next person! -- and wasn't correcting my lousy pronunciation. But last night, it all kind of clicked. We were creating dialogues to sell things, and I got two classmates in a bidding war for the house I was selling in Monaco. :) It was a lot of fun, the teacher was engaged and helping me, and I finally knew I was getting something out of it. What a great feeling!

I'm also learning by writing a pen pal -- she writes in English and I write her back auf Deutsch. I feel like a real simpleton writing such basic things as "ich habe ein Hund und eine Katze," and all in present tense, of course, but my vocab's slowly building. I just hope there is room in my aged brain for this!

Aside from German, I've been spending inordinate amounts of time working on the The Gays of Our Lives event. We have less than 20 tickets to sell, which is great, but it's still making me nervous. But at least it's distracting me from the fact that my real paying work has dropped to almost nothing. I appreciate the free time; I'm less happy about the dent my savings is taking. That's supposed to go to travelling, not my hydro bill!

Despite my impoverished status of woe, I bought the most adorable boots!

And that is about all of my exciting life. And look, I didn't mention my AWZ obsession even once -- add in the weather (too damn cold!) and my health (pretty good for a couch potato), and this is just like a conversation with my father!